Acetylene-gas generator



Jan. 17, 1928 W. A. HENDERSON ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR Filed July 28, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M. H.H-. HH. 3

ATTOQNEY Jan. 17, 1928.

w. HENDERSON ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR Filed July 28, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTO R N EY ill) Patented Jan, 17, 1928.

VJATT ALEXANDER HENDERSON, 0F BIRTJZINGHAM,

1,fi56,79l

FFECE.

ACETYLENE-G-AS GEETERATOR.

Application filed July 28, 1926. Serial no. 125,523.

local inspection.

An important and more specific object is the provision of a gauge device which may be operated by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure and which is operat-ively connected with the hopper tor the calcium carbide so that variations in the weight of the carbide within the hopper will be registered in the indicator or gauge.

An additional. object is to provide a device 01'? this character which will be comparatively simple and inexpensive in manufacture, easy to use, positive in action, eiiicient and durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

Vith the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction, and the arrange-' ment and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed,

and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which:-

Figure. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through an acetylene gas generator having the invention embodied therein,

Figure 2 is a detail View of one of the bellows-like elements forming part of the apparatus,

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a modification, and

Figure 4; is a detail view oi the hopper support embodied in the modification (lisclosed in Figure 3.

Beferrin more particularlyto the drawings, the numeral 10 designates, generally, an acetylene gas generator embodying .a water tank 11 above which is mounted a hopper 12 which contains the calcium carbide indicated at 13. This hopper is shown as having the usual type of filling opening normally closed by a removable cap 1 1 so that the supply may be replenished from time to time as occasion arises,

It is well known that in acetylene gas generators, there are alternative constructions provided. In one type oi device, wate is permitted to drop upon the calcium carbide and in the other general type the calcium carbide itself is permitted to drop into water and it is in connection with the latter mentoned type that the present invention has its greatest adaptability. Obviously, the generator 10 is provided with the usual gas outlet 1 within which or with which a anged any ordinary or preferred type of control valve structure indicated 15.

In accordance with the present invention, the hopper 12 is vertically movably mounted and carries one or more outwardly extending brat-net elements 16 engaging upon the u pper ends of one or more plungers'or stems 17 at the upper ends 01" one or more bellows members 18 mounted upon suitable brackets 19 secured to the inside of the generator in any desired manner.

Any desired number of bellows members may be provided, and regardless of the number thereof, 1 provide pipes or tubes 20 connected and communicating therewith and connected with common tube or pipe 2 which leads to an indicator or gauge located at some convenient point. In actual practice, it is contemplated that this gauge have an illuminated dial or else that it be provided with an illuminated hand or pointer movable over a dial so that readings may be readily made at night. Sometimes devices of this character are located in places which are not well lighted, and in order that the gauge may be conveniently read both by day and by night, without the aid of artificial light, it is contemplated that the dial, or else the hand or pointer, be made luminous.

Obviously, the bellows members 18 together with the tubes or pipes 20 and 21 may con tain merely air or they may contain, a liquid depending upon whether the device is iutended to be pneumatically or hydraulically operated. Regardless of whether these elements contain air or liquid, it quite apparent that the weight oi the hopper 12 and the contents thereof will be sustained by the bellows members 18 owing to the provision of the outstanding bracket members 16 which engage upon the stems or plungers 17. Clearly, when there the maximum weight of calcium carbide within the hopper 12 the pressure thereoi": coming against the bellows members 18 will compress the air or liquid therein, as the case may be and give a correspending indication on the gauge 22. As the calcium carbide is used up in the operation l or) g V nci iofiei of the generator it isobvious that the weight thereof will be reduced from time to time and the reduction in the weight will be correspondinglyshown'on the gauge 22 so that the operator or attendant may at any time by glancing at the gauge be apprised of ex-'7 actly the amount of calcium carbide remaining in the hopper; it will consequently. be unnecessary to make a local inspection and this will-be a great safeguard inasmuch as it is a common practice to look at such devices witha lit match, explosions often occurring as the result thereof. The device will consequently act as a safeguard against fire in addition to having the advantage of enabling the operator or attendant to know ei; actly and accurately the quantity of gas forming material onhand at all times I a In Figures 3 and 4, I have illustrated a modified form of the invention in which there is provided only a single bellows incin- "ber25 mounted in exactly the same manner as the bellows members 18 of the first described form. The hopper 26 0t 3eorresponding exactly to the hopper 12 of Fig. 1, is capable, of course, of vertical movement but is differently mounted inasmuch as instead of providing it with two bracket members 16 as disclosed in the first form it is supported upon a ring-like member 27 which is hinged at 28 upon one side of the shell and which is 7 provided at a point diametrically opposite the hinge wit-h an extension 29 resting upon the central element 30 of the bellows member 25. like formation or provided with an opening 31 :tor the reception of the hopper, and at opposite points the ring member is formed with inward projections 32 engaging the hopper, the purpose being-to reduce the area The member 27 is of course of ringof ei'igageinen't ot the hopper with the ring member.

By the above described specific mounting for the hopper in the modified form of the invention it is clear that the hopper will be constrained to a purely longitudinal movement and cannot run laterally owing to the provision of the ring member 27 mounted in the particular manner set forth. In other words the hopper cannot can't or tip side ways and consequently interfere with the accuracy of the operation. Oi course, this form ofthe device operates in substantially the same manner as the first described form from the bellows and connected with the gauge. 7

2. In an acetylene gas generator embodying a. casing, a substantially vertically ino'vab'ly mounted carbide hopper within the casing, a

bracket member carried by the hopper, a stationary support within the casing, a nor mally expanded bellows mounted on the support and engaged by said bracket, said bellows containing fluid under pressure, a

gauge, and a conduit member leading trom the "bellows to the gauge. a

In testimony whereoi I a'tiix my signature.

WATT ALEXANDER animator. 

